Mollie Wood
@anecdatally.bsky.social
Asst. prof of epidemiology at UNC Chapel Hill
| training at HSPH, UiO, UMass Med, BUSPH | interests in rxepi, repro-perinatal epi, methods | she/her/dr
| training at HSPH, UiO, UMass Med, BUSPH | interests in rxepi, repro-perinatal epi, methods | she/her/dr
But I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do.
December 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
But I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do.
Reposted by Mollie Wood
Rearranging variables can make this clearer. In plot below, it's relatively easy to see that total effect needs no adjustment, and that direct effect from A to Y needs to block the indirect path that traverses D and C. D is a collider, and C the child of the collider, hence adjustment on B is needed
December 2, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Rearranging variables can make this clearer. In plot below, it's relatively easy to see that total effect needs no adjustment, and that direct effect from A to Y needs to block the indirect path that traverses D and C. D is a collider, and C the child of the collider, hence adjustment on B is needed
This is a hell of a year to be staring down the tenure clock, having yet to secure 'R01 or equivalent' funding. I've submitted 10 proposals this year: 6 as PI, 2 foundations.
It's weird to feel both anxious about this, and also guilty for feeling anxious about this amid all the *gestures wildly*
It's weird to feel both anxious about this, and also guilty for feeling anxious about this amid all the *gestures wildly*
Essential reading if you care about the health of scientific inquiry in the US
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This is a hell of a year to be staring down the tenure clock, having yet to secure 'R01 or equivalent' funding. I've submitted 10 proposals this year: 6 as PI, 2 foundations.
It's weird to feel both anxious about this, and also guilty for feeling anxious about this amid all the *gestures wildly*
It's weird to feel both anxious about this, and also guilty for feeling anxious about this amid all the *gestures wildly*
I went to undergrad with a guy who thought eating was a waste of time, so he blended and drank all his meals. I can’t remember his name, but the tuna fish sandwich shakes will be branded into my brain until the day I die.
Discovered new way to quickly consume leftover pies: blend half gallon of ice cream + some milk + an entire pie in a kitchenaid. Between the 7 of us, a whole pie-in-shake-form disappeared in like 90 seconds
November 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I went to undergrad with a guy who thought eating was a waste of time, so he blended and drank all his meals. I can’t remember his name, but the tuna fish sandwich shakes will be branded into my brain until the day I die.
I'm hiring a researcher to work on several ongoing funded projects at the University of Oslo! Details below:
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Researcher in PharmacoEpidemiology and Biostatistics (289818) | University of Oslo
Job title: Researcher in PharmacoEpidemiology and Biostatistics (289818), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I'm hiring a researcher to work on several ongoing funded projects at the University of Oslo! Details below:
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Potential outcomes tabs in Outlook! DAGs in your Google query! Marginal structural models to help you plan your next vacation!
The advances we've made in statistics, experimental study design, and causal inference over the past century are remarkably useful for understanding our world. But there is never been a push to make people use them like we are seeing with generative AI. Perhaps take a moment to consider why.
November 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Potential outcomes tabs in Outlook! DAGs in your Google query! Marginal structural models to help you plan your next vacation!
I have a weekly meeting with a USian who works in Norway and this is the first time our 10-minute politics-related therapy session at the top of the hour has been hopeful, so.
November 5, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I have a weekly meeting with a USian who works in Norway and this is the first time our 10-minute politics-related therapy session at the top of the hour has been hopeful, so.
Reposted by Mollie Wood
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
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The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
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Ah yes, let's try the "have you tried turning it off and on again" approach to fixing US healthcare.
UPDATE: Hours after saying they were pausing all payments, Medicare says they’re NOT pausing all payments.
More ➡️ www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
More ➡️ www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
Medicare backs off plan to pause doctor payments amid shutdown
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services backed off a plan to pause Medicare payments to doctors amid the government shutdown.
www.statnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Ah yes, let's try the "have you tried turning it off and on again" approach to fixing US healthcare.
Weekly Ruport: bad news cycle means more emotional support pillows
September 23, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Weekly Ruport: bad news cycle means more emotional support pillows
It’s hard to know whether talking about these things is helpful or just gives them more oxygen, but the current acetaminophen fire is already roaring so here we go. Most importantly: ACOG affirms their position that acetaminophen is safe in pregnancy bsky.app/profile/acog...
September 23, 2025 at 9:16 AM
It’s hard to know whether talking about these things is helpful or just gives them more oxygen, but the current acetaminophen fire is already roaring so here we go. Most importantly: ACOG affirms their position that acetaminophen is safe in pregnancy bsky.app/profile/acog...
I'm hoping for advice from NIH funded researchers re the updated OA policy (grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...). Specifically: I have students funded on an F31 or T32 whose papers were submitted this spring and accepted after 7/1. Per policy, those papers must be OA from pub date... (1/3)
NOT-OD-25-101: Revision: Notice of Updated Effective Date for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Revision: Notice of Updated Effective Date for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy NOT-OD-25-101. NIH
grants.nih.gov
September 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I'm hoping for advice from NIH funded researchers re the updated OA policy (grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...). Specifically: I have students funded on an F31 or T32 whose papers were submitted this spring and accepted after 7/1. Per policy, those papers must be OA from pub date... (1/3)
Reposted by Mollie Wood
Props to the CDC staff who presented the science at yesterday’s #ACIP meeting.
Key points relating to #CovidVaccination in #pregnancy…
1. No increased risk of any problems in pregnancy, at birth, or for infants
1/
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
Key points relating to #CovidVaccination in #pregnancy…
1. No increased risk of any problems in pregnancy, at birth, or for infants
1/
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
September 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Props to the CDC staff who presented the science at yesterday’s #ACIP meeting.
Key points relating to #CovidVaccination in #pregnancy…
1. No increased risk of any problems in pregnancy, at birth, or for infants
1/
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
Key points relating to #CovidVaccination in #pregnancy…
1. No increased risk of any problems in pregnancy, at birth, or for infants
1/
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
I don't know how many of my ISPE friends (and enemies...?) are on here, but (a) the ISPE Peer Mentoring program is currently taking applications and (b) it's GREAT, you should probably sign up. Link: www.pharmacoepi.org/get-involved...
September 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I don't know how many of my ISPE friends (and enemies...?) are on here, but (a) the ISPE Peer Mentoring program is currently taking applications and (b) it's GREAT, you should probably sign up. Link: www.pharmacoepi.org/get-involved...
The thing about middle age is that one of your hips always lies and the other always tells the truth.
September 1, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The thing about middle age is that one of your hips always lies and the other always tells the truth.
I went to a talk last year and remember thinking: did he just say we should use AI to create study samples? Not for simulation studies, but to answer an applied question? I must have misheard, that’s clearly bonkers.
Anyway, here we are.
Anyway, here we are.
Our new analysis, in collab with @gelliottmorris.com, finds major errors when replacing humans with synthetic samples. Over the next 5 days, we’ll share some of the findings.
https://report.verasight.io/synthetic-sampling/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=launch&utm_content=cover
https://report.verasight.io/synthetic-sampling/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=launch&utm_content=cover
August 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I went to a talk last year and remember thinking: did he just say we should use AI to create study samples? Not for simulation studies, but to answer an applied question? I must have misheard, that’s clearly bonkers.
Anyway, here we are.
Anyway, here we are.
Reposted by Mollie Wood
1. The philosophy of science sometimes gets an unearned reputation as a purely academic exercise that offers little by way of concrete tools for advancing research.
This is wrong.
And today, as we grapple with how AI is changing the nature of scientific activity, it's desperately wrong.
This is wrong.
And today, as we grapple with how AI is changing the nature of scientific activity, it's desperately wrong.
August 19, 2025 at 4:59 AM
1. The philosophy of science sometimes gets an unearned reputation as a purely academic exercise that offers little by way of concrete tools for advancing research.
This is wrong.
And today, as we grapple with how AI is changing the nature of scientific activity, it's desperately wrong.
This is wrong.
And today, as we grapple with how AI is changing the nature of scientific activity, it's desperately wrong.
Reposted by Mollie Wood
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
August 12, 2025 at 9:54 AM
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
Reposted by Mollie Wood
This is very bad. Although entirely predictable. Once more the humanities are being cut back to prop up STEM and, increasingly, AI investment (including at the expense of bench science). In the past, cuts to humanities were promoted on two separate logic streams that do not hold true: /1
Dean at U of Chicago: “She also expressed concerns that the administration might be asking the Arts & Humanities Division to cut back to compensate for other divisions’ financial challenges, asking whether ‘our entire unit [is] being used to float other units facing cuts.”
UChicago Arts & Humanities Division to Restructure Amid “Historic Funding Pressures”
“The status quo is not an option,” Deborah Nelson, dean of the Division of the Arts & Humanities, wrote to division faculty on June 18.
chicagomaroon.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This is very bad. Although entirely predictable. Once more the humanities are being cut back to prop up STEM and, increasingly, AI investment (including at the expense of bench science). In the past, cuts to humanities were promoted on two separate logic streams that do not hold true: /1
Interested in selection of an index date for studies using external comparators? Free upcoming seminar on July 25 hosted by UNC Pharmacoepi, FDA Oncology CoE, and the Triangle CERSI (link to register: lu.ma/yilev7pp).
July 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Interested in selection of an index date for studies using external comparators? Free upcoming seminar on July 25 hosted by UNC Pharmacoepi, FDA Oncology CoE, and the Triangle CERSI (link to register: lu.ma/yilev7pp).
Provincetown Harbor at sunset
June 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Provincetown Harbor at sunset
Driving to Boston for SER and was just passed by an SUV with the vanity plate “ECON AF”
Feels like a personal attack
Feels like a personal attack
June 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Driving to Boston for SER and was just passed by an SUV with the vanity plate “ECON AF”
Feels like a personal attack
Feels like a personal attack
Reposted by Mollie Wood
Guys, I love all of you, but the answer to RFK, Jr. is not that autistic adults hold jobs, pay taxes, and get laid, it's that everyone deserves to live even if they can't work, pay taxes, or get laid.
April 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Guys, I love all of you, but the answer to RFK, Jr. is not that autistic adults hold jobs, pay taxes, and get laid, it's that everyone deserves to live even if they can't work, pay taxes, or get laid.
Reposted by Mollie Wood
The UNC-CH chapter of the AAUP strongly and unequivocally condemns the targeting of international students and scholars.
In light of the April 8 revocation of six UNC student visas, we call on UNC-CH to take concrete steps to support students and scholars at risk:
unc-ch-aaup.org/news#2025-04...
In light of the April 8 revocation of six UNC student visas, we call on UNC-CH to take concrete steps to support students and scholars at risk:
unc-ch-aaup.org/news#2025-04...
April 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The UNC-CH chapter of the AAUP strongly and unequivocally condemns the targeting of international students and scholars.
In light of the April 8 revocation of six UNC student visas, we call on UNC-CH to take concrete steps to support students and scholars at risk:
unc-ch-aaup.org/news#2025-04...
In light of the April 8 revocation of six UNC student visas, we call on UNC-CH to take concrete steps to support students and scholars at risk:
unc-ch-aaup.org/news#2025-04...
Reposted by Mollie Wood
🚨 BREAKING: I'm suing #RFKJr @ #HHS & #JayBhattacharya @ #NIH
Canceling medical research grants threatens innovations benefiting ALL Americans, no matter your politics! 🇺🇸
Thanks to my lawyers @aclu.org @aclum.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org & @cspi.bsky.social
Long 🧵 on why I'm suing 👇
1/
Canceling medical research grants threatens innovations benefiting ALL Americans, no matter your politics! 🇺🇸
Thanks to my lawyers @aclu.org @aclum.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org & @cspi.bsky.social
Long 🧵 on why I'm suing 👇
1/
April 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
🚨 BREAKING: I'm suing #RFKJr @ #HHS & #JayBhattacharya @ #NIH
Canceling medical research grants threatens innovations benefiting ALL Americans, no matter your politics! 🇺🇸
Thanks to my lawyers @aclu.org @aclum.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org & @cspi.bsky.social
Long 🧵 on why I'm suing 👇
1/
Canceling medical research grants threatens innovations benefiting ALL Americans, no matter your politics! 🇺🇸
Thanks to my lawyers @aclu.org @aclum.bsky.social @protectdemocracy.org & @cspi.bsky.social
Long 🧵 on why I'm suing 👇
1/